Have been crying for the past 15 minutes. Can't wait to hold my kindergartener today either. My 3rd grader too. I don't understand what would make a person do this to innocent children. I wish there was a way to put my arms around all of the families affected. Those who lost their children and parents and co-workers. And prayers of healing for the children who have lost friends and their innocence. May God bestow every blessing on all of them.

I am a teacher and a mom...it's time for universal health care so that mental illness can be more widely treated and even more importantly, stricter gun control laws that will at least tell those families that their loved ones did not really die in vain.

My heart is aching for them. I pray that God gives them all immense strength during this time. I can't wait to get home and hug our son, and I pray for those parents that no longer have that opportunity.

I am devastated at hearing this news. My son was in high school when Columbine happened. Then someone found a threatening note on the floor of the hallway of his school one day and they evacuated the students to the football stadium. In the ensuing panic, a young girl fell to her death from the top of the stadium. I wish I knew how to stop it - the shooting, the threats, the madness of it all.

Wish my (grown)kids & grandson lived close by to hug them and remind them how much I love them. I live in CT a couple hours away from Newtown ... our whole state is horrified and shocked like the rest of the country.

yeah cause if there were more gun laws he wouldn't be able to get ahold of a gun riiiiiight.

Just like the football player who killed his wife and himself they would both be alive too. UM, no she'd still be dead, probably strangled and he'd be alive wasting our tax dollars for a trial in which he'd get off for killing his wife.

This is why I refuse to drop my children at school because people are crazy! When they get in their minds to do something nuts it will be carried out no law will stop them. There is always a nut out there with a way to get a gun soooo incredibly sad, and a horrible reality, but it's true.

I do like guns, but we have them for a purpose, because we have bears and moose and cougars ON our property. When we lived in a subdivision we didn't have, but one and that's because my husband is ex-military.

I am not a nut on either side of this argument, but it's a reality people will get those guns no matter what I really don't think there is a way to stop it.

I did the same thing. I had two family members call early this afternoon, asking if I was watching the news. I then proceeded to sit in front of the TV and cry for an hour and a half. All the while, staring at the clock, wanting to run to the school to pick up my first grader early.It makes my heart ache and my gut wrench. After the mall shooting just miles from our home earlier this week, it's been a tough week and makes me want to hug all three of my kids that much more. Our neighbor was the woman killed and her son goes to the same school as my son.We're now going to snuggle on the couch and watch Miracle on 34th Street and attempt to forget the cares of the world.Those poor, poor families. I wish I could take away their excruciating pain. I just can't imagine anything worse than what they're going through.

Thank you, Sarah, for taking a moment to put decorating posts aside. As I have read frivolous statuses and posts it had just seemed so disrespectful to families that lost so much today.....families that will have gifts that sit unopened under the tree. Does it really matter what my kitchen cabinet decor looks like? Thank you for setting an example.

I live in Portland, OR about 20 minutes from the mall where another 20-something year old went on a shooting spree this week. Now all this evil in Conneticut. What is happening?! I feel like the holidays are bringing out the crazies. It all makes me want to hold my family tight and hunker down in my house until the holidays are over.

My 8 year old niece attends Sandy Hook Elementary but was home with the flu when this tragedy took place. I am numb and at a loss for words. This is so surreal. While I'm thankful that my niece is safe, I ache for all the families who lost a precious one.

I've been crying on and off everytime I think about this. Those parents had gifts waiting for their children to open on Christmas morning. They had plans of family coming to visit and sharing the joy of the season. Now I think "what if this had been our family, my children, that this had happened to?" And I feel like someone has gripped my heart in their fist and crushed it. Those children will never wake up Christmas morning eager to open the presents so lovingly prepared for them. The parents will never see that joy on their child's face when they tear into those packages. They will never be able to tuck their children in bed, tell them a story, kiss their little foreheads and hug them tight again. They will never see them experience that first crush, their first car, prom, graduation, weddings, the birth of their own children. It's just so very wrong that so much has been taken from these families and for what?? None of us knows what motive, if any, this individual had. And these families will never get the closure that comes with a sentencing because this coward took his own life when he was through. It's going to be a very tough Christmas for many people. </3

While I try to refrain from being political, I have to agree with TENFAIRYTOES here. Gun laws wouldn't keep criminals from getting them. Criminals by definition have no regard for existing laws. Law abiding citizens would, however, have no access to guns to protect themselves with. So, in effect, further gun control would only make the average citizen more susceptible to victimization. Drugs are illegal, yet they make their way into our neighborhoods every day by people who disregard the law. Rape and incest are also illegal, but people still manage to commit these crimes. So why haven't we outlawed genitalia? *smirk* Anything can be a deadly weapon when used outside of its intended purpose. Take a pencil for example, or a baseball bat. In the wrong hands, with evil intent, it can be deadly.

Susan, I am also a Susan, an ex-teacher, a mom (although my kids are grown now(), and I agree. Mental health care needs to be available to all. Let's trust the providers to weed out those who don't really need it and give them the resources to concentrate on the ones who desperately do!

Kim, I am glad your precious niece is safe!

Roguegrl, I don't think this is the time to be political either, but this is not a question of politics. This is an issue of human decency, respect for human life -- and survival. If we as a society can make it even just a little bit harder for these perpetrators to get and misuse weapons -- or, even better, counsel them and teach them how to redirect that evil and angry energy into something useful, then I am all for it.

After a day of shopping with my mother in law, I came home turned on the news and seen this tragic story.. I could not stop crying. Thinking of so many things all at once the anguish that will last a lifetime for so many. Praying for the families and all who endured the horrific events of yesterday.

Saddened along with everyone else about this horrid event. I can't even imagine the heartache for so many, but was struck by what must have gone through this mother's mind as her own son turned against her. No one deserves to feel such terror. Who among us would ever expect that from one of our children. The rest of this family needs prayers as well.

The tears just keep coming. I just don't understand the senselessness of it all. Those poor babies and the families that lost a loved one. Such grief and sadness when will such things stop happening and we all love and live as one family. My prayer go out to everyone! God help us.

I can't even imagine how the families affected by this tragedy must be feeling. I don't have children, but I have kids in my life that I adore, and that's as close to being able to put myself in their shoes as I can get. But even the thought of losing one of them is absolutely horrifying. They're in my prayers as well.

I have a Kindergartener too.....I haven't looked at her the same since friday. I just stare at her thanking God that I have her here safe in my arms. I have had a child pass away and it's the worse pain possible. (understatement) I've been praying for the families and also taking the time to remind myself that no matter how busy life gets, to never (not even for a day) take for granted the gifts God has given me. Oh shoot.....now I'm going to cry ):

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